For the first time in a month, I’m actually on time with posting for the 52 Week Pick n Mix Challenge. I was tempted to do a splatter manicure, but I’ve gone just with the aqua theme and have done an aqua gradient that I’ve stamped with a floral image from Born Pretty Store plate BP-56.

The gradient is made with three Barry M polishes, which are, from lightest to darkest: Sky Blue, Turquoise and Cyan Blue. I don’t think they are as aqua as they could be. For me, aqua is a little more green. In fact, it’s supposed to be half way between green and blue, and all of these, even the Turquoise, lean more blue than green for me.

I stamped using Konad White and Born Pretty Store BP-56. The plate was sent to me for review, but I’ve also bought it as part of the BP-56 to BP-60 set. It’s called a “flower leaf design” on the Born Pretty Store website. Half of the plate is a large image made up of swirls and leaves. Then there’s a couple of individual flowers and a larger floral image, and these smaller three images would all be great for leadlighting.

The plate costs just £1.95, with free delivery, although it works out much cheaper per plate when you buy them as part of a set.

In case you’re wondering, yes, my nails are much shorter than they usually are. They have gradually got longer and longer over the past few months and were getting a little too long for me. The little finger nail also picked up two breaks yesterday, one on each side, exactly opposite each other just where the free edge starts. I had to hastily patch it to save it.

With that nail having such an obvious weak spot, I didn’t want to risk it snapping off totally, and along with being unsure about how long my nails had become, I took the ruthless approach and shortened them quite considerably. I have lots of upcoming posts where I’ve already photographed my nails when they were longer, so there will be a mix of lengths on the blog for a few weeks to come.

For this manicure I’ve used:

Gradient: Barry M Sky Blue, Barry M Turquoise and Barry M Cyan Blue

First top coat: Sally hansen Insta-Dri

Stamping polish: Konad White

Stamping plate: Born Pretty Store BP-56

Top coat: Glisten & Glow HK Girl

All manicure images are copyright to Kerruticles unless otherwise mentioned.
Born Pretty Store plate BP-56 was sent to me for review. All views expressed in this post are my own, honest and unbiased opinions.

Comments

Lovely mani! Your gradient is so seamless and the colors are beautiful. While I was admiring your creativity, I thought, “Her nails look shorter.” Then I read about the tragic accident one of your nails suffered yesterday and how it led to the shortening of all your nails and realized I had been right. I may spend a teeny bit too much time studying your manis. Just my opinion, but I think they are really pretty the length they are right now. Curious: What caused the odd breaking of your nail on both sides, and what patching method do you use? Have a good day!

Do you know, I really like my nails at this length too. They feel right this long, and the corners don’t have a tendency to curve inwards yet at this length, which they do when they’re longer. It’s not deliberate to let them get long; it just happens without me really noticing. I tend to file them about once a week, but I guess I’m not taking enough off each time and they just get longer and longer.

I think the breaks were caused by lots of recent swatching and not enough moisturising/oiling. Plus the extra length always weakens my nails. I haven’t had a swatching hand break in many months, so it was only a matter of time before it happened.

I just patch them using the tea bag method. I cut up a small strip of tea bag (the material type – rather than the paper type) about 2-3 mm wide, and longer than the split by 1-2mm, then I glue it on with nail glue (super glue). I buff it smoother when it’s hardened, but make sure to be careful not to over buff as it will just break again.

About me

I'm Claire Kerr and I'm a UK nails blogger. I've only been addicted to nail polish since 2012. Some kind of mid-life crisis turned me from a tomboy into a girly girl!

I had been posting pics of my manicures to Facebook, really as a way of documenting them for myself, but I was filling up my timeline with the photos and most of my friends weren't interested. So I started this blog instead!